Categories: Things To Do

Toronto has floating concerts & here’s where you can paddle to them

Photo via Music on the River

Scenic paddles, music, warm summer nights — put ’em all together and you have what might just be the coolest live concert experience Toronto has to offer. Music on the River is a concert series right on the Humber River and you can paddle your way to the show starting on Friday, May 27.

Your journey begins at the Humber Paddling centre, a short 5-minute walk from Old Mill subway station, where you’ll get set up with everything you need for the evening — your boat, paddle, lifejackets, access to the show, and a glowstick to wave along with the music.

You can choose from a variety of boat rentals, including single and double-seater kayaks, a regular canoe for two adults, or a large canoe that can fit up to two adults and three children. The regular canoe can even accommodate your dog, as long as you’re prepared to paddle for the both of you.

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The scenic paddle up the tree-lined river is beginner-friendly, so if your skills aren’t on par with Canada’s gold medal-winning rowing team, don’t sweat it. The duration of the event is 1.5 hours, and the concert runs 45 minutes long.

When you arrive at the stage dock, you’ll be greeted by the event’s host Dan Galea, who will introduce the local act of the evening. The event series features all kinds of Toronto-based artists, and you can see the full schedule here.

The paddling centre also puts on floating comedy shows and magic shows, as well as glow-in-the-dark paddles under the night sky.

The concerts run on select evenings until the fall, so there’s plenty of time to cross this adventure off your bucket list. Your reservation can be booked online, so all you need to do is pick a partner and show up!